Device for producing staple fiber yarns from continuous filaments



NOV. 19, 1940. J N 2,221,869

DEVICE FOR PRODUCING STAPLE FIBER YARNS FROM CONTINUOUS FILAMENTS FiledApril 27 1939 INVENTOR. Jl/AES HflZJ/V ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 19, 1940 DEVICE FOR. PRODUCING STAPLE FIBER YARNS, FRGMCONTINUOUS FILAMENTS Jules E. Halin, Drummondville, Quebec, Canada,

assignor to Celanese Corporation of America, a corporation or Delaware11 Claims.

This invention relates to the manufacture of textile yarns, and relatesmore particularly to a' device for producing yarns having the-appearanceof spun yarn, that is, yarn made from staple fiber, but having a basisof continuous filaments.

In the manufacture of spun yarn from artificial fibers, the usualpractice is to cut continuous artificial filaments or waste filamentsinto comparatively short lengths, for example of 1 /2 to 2 inches ormore, and then subject the staple fibers produced to a series ofoperations appropriate to the length of the fiber, such operations beingsimilar to those accorded to natural fibers such as cotton or wool,including opening, carding, drawing and spinning. These operationsrepresent considerable expensein the production of such yarns, sincethey involve a relatively slow transformation of the initial fibrousmaterial to a finished yarn.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved device forproducing yarn having an appearance similar to that of yarn made fromspun fiber without the necessity for cutting continuous filaments intoshort lengths and spinning the fibers thus produced, which device issimple in construction, inexpensive in cost and effective in operation.

A further object of this invention is the provision of means forpreventing the fouling of the device and consequent wastage of yarn uponbreaking.

Other objects of this invention, together with certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, will appear from the followingdetailed description and the claims.

In accordance with the present invention an up-twisting device hasassociated therewith a pair of rollers, one or both being fluted,through which a bundle comprising a suitable number of con- 0 tinuousfilaments, hereinafter referred to as yarn,

is passed. The surfaces of the rollers are adapted to move in the samegeneral direction as the yarn and ata different speed therefrom. Thecutting of the filaments in the yarn is eflected by the pressure of oneof the rollers against the" the fluted rollers when it is broken abovesaid rollers, an interrupter or drop wire is provided I 55' to break theyarn below the rollers. This serves In order that the yarn may not .wraparound Application April 27, 1939, Serial No. 270,288

the additional purpose of avoiding waste of yarn. I

By way of example a form of apparatus according to this invention willnow be described in greater detail with reference to the accom panyingdrawing in which the figure shows a perspective view of the device. I

In the drawing, the reference numeral I des ignates a cross-bar on theframe of an up-twist-' ing machine modified in accordance with this 10invention in which a yarn 2 is taken from a twisting bobbin 3 rotatablymounted on the spindle assembly, generally indicated by referencenumeral 4, which is rotated by belt 5. The yarn is passed throughpigtail guide 6 which is at- 5 tached to cross-bar l by means of a screw1, and then through a pair of rollers 8 and 9 one or both of which arefluted spirally or otherwise.

The edges of the teeth of the fluted rollers are of course somewhat dullas teeth with sharp edges woulddestroy the yarn. Roller 8 is fixed on ashaft II which is positively driven by any suitable means in thedirection of travel of the yarn 2, while roller 9 is an idler rollerwhich, in operative position, rests on and is driven by roller 8 and isof such weight as to have the desired cutting action on the bundle offilaments.

Roller 9 is mounted on-a shaft l2 which is mounted for free verticalmovement in slotted bearings IS in bracket l4 suitably attached tocross-bar l. The yarn is then passed in contact with a tubular threadguide iii of porcelain or other suitable material on a drop wire I 6which is pivotally mounted on a screw or bolt I! in the bracket M. Theyarn is then passed through a thread guide l8 mounted on a reciprocatingtraverse bar I9 and on to take-up bobbin 2|. which is mounted for freevertical movement in bearings 22 in brackets 23. The take-up bobbin isrotated by means of a roll 24 whichmay be r cork covered, as is wellunderstood in the art.

The drop wire I6 is provided for the purpose of preventing the yarn fromlapping about the rollers should the yarn break above the same. As shownin full lines in the drawing, the drop wire 1 is in the position whichit assumes during the running of the device. When'the' yarn breaks abovethe rollers, the drop wire falls to the position shown in dotted linesand a hooked portion 25 integral with the drop wire l6 cooperates withtheloop 26 of a finger 2'l pivotally mounted on a bolt or screw 28 tomove the finger intothe- I pathI-of the balloon 29 formed by therotating yarn to break the said yarn.

The operation of my device is as follows: Yarn supplied by bobbin 3,having a denier o1 200has a twist of 15 to 20 turns per inch or othersuitable twist inserted therein by the rotation of the bobbin 3. The yamthen passes through the pigtail guide 6 and through the rollers 8 and 9,which are about 2 inches in diameter and the lower one of which, roller8, is positively driven at a speed of about 43 R. P. M. From the rollerswhere the filaments are cut, the bundle is passed in contact withdrop-wire l6 and traversed on to the take-up bobbin 2| which is rotatedby means of'roller 24 which is approximately 4 inches in diameter and isdriven by shaft 3| at a speed of about 47 R. P. M. The yarn is thusdrawn between the cutting rollers 8 and 9 at a higher speed than theperipheral speed oi the rollers. It will, of course, be understood thatonly roller 8 may be fluted and that roller 9 may have a flat surface,and also that abrasive rollers, i. e. rollers composed of or coveredwith carborundum or emery or other abrasive substance, may be usedinstead of the fluted rollers.

The average length of staple fiber has an important bearing on theappearance and other qualities of the product produced according to theinvention. This may be controlled by suitable adjustment of theapparatus and its conditions of operation, as well as by selection ofthe yarn to be treated. Thus, in general, a higher rate of operation ofthe cutting rolls results in a longer average fiber length beingobtained. A greater amount of twist in the filament bundle tends toreduce the average fiber length. Moreover, greater pressure at thecutting device (this pressure depending also upon the size of the yarnto be treated and the number of filaments it contains) reduces theaverage fiber length, as also does an increase in the ratio between thespeed of travel of the yarn and that of the cutting devices. Finerfilaments are usually more readily cut, and the more frequent cuttinghas the efiect, of course, of reducing the average fiber length.

As indicated above, greater pressure at the cutting device is necessarywith increase in the size of the yarn. Finer filaments, however, requireless pressure than coarser filaments. Moreover, a lower ratio betweenthe speed of travel of the yarn and that of the cutting devices callsfor higher pressure.

What is desired to be secured by Letters Patent 1. Apparatus for theconversion of a yarn comprising a bundle of continuous filaments into acontinuous product containing staple fiber comprising, in combinationwith a device having means for inserting twist into the yarn and meansfor taking-up the same at apoint substantially above and in line withthe spindle of the twisting means, a movable cutting roller over whichthe yarn is caused to move on its way to the take-up means, an idlerroller adapted to make contact with said cutting roller to keep the yarncontinuously pressed against the surface of the cutting roller, thecutting roller being adapted to move at a peripheral speed which is lessthan the peripheral speed of the take-up means, whereby there isobtained slippage of the yarn past the rollers, and means for breakingthe yarn at a point below the severing roller upon breakage of the yarnat a point above the severing roller.

2. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comprising a bundle ofcontinuous filaments into a for taking-up the same at a point above thetwisting means, a movable fluted cutting roller over which the yarn iscaused to move on its way to the take-up means, a second roller adaptedto make contact with said cutting roller to keep the yarn continuouslypressed against the surface of the cutting roller, the cutting rollerbeing adapted to move at a peripheral speed which is less than theperipheral speed of the take-up means, whereby there is obtainedslippage of the yarn past a point below the severing roller uponbreakage of the yarn at a point above the severing roller.

3. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comprising a bundle ofcontinuous filaments into a continuous product containing staple fibercomprising, in combination with a device having means for insertingtwist into the yarn and means for taking-up the same at a point abovethe twisting means, a movable spirally fluted cutting roller over whichthe yarn is caused to move on its way to the take-up means, a secondspirally fluted roller adapted to make contact with said cutting rollerto keep the yarn continuously pressed against the surface of therollers, the cutting roller being adapted to move at a peripheral speedwhich is less than the peripheral speed of the take-up means, wherebythere is obtained slippage of the yarn past the rollers, and means forbreaking the yarn at a point below the severing roller upon breakage ofthe yarn at a point above the severing roller.

4. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comthe-rollers, and means forbreaking the yarn at I prising a bundle of continuous filaments into acontinuous product containing staple fiber comprising, in combinationwith a device having means for inserting twist into the yarn and meansfor taking-up the same at a point above the twisting means, a movablecutting roller over which the yarn is caused to move on its way to thetakeup means, a second roller adapted to make contact with said cuttingroller to keep the yarn continuously pressed against the surface of thecutting roller, the cutting roller being adapted to move at a peripheralspeed which is less than the peripheral speed of the take-up means,whereby there is obtaind slippage of the yarn past the rollers, andmeans for breaking the yarn at a point below the rollers upon breakageof the yarn at a point above said rollers.

5. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comprising a bundle ofcontinuous filaments into a continuous product containing staple fibercomprising, in combination with a device having means for insertingtwist into the yarn and means for taking-up the same at a point abovethe twisting means, a. movable cutting roller over which the yarn iscaused to move on its way to the takeup means, a second roller adaptedto make contact with said cutting roller to keep the yarn continuouslypressed against the surface of the cutting roller, the cutting rollerbeing adapted to move at a peripheral speed which is less than theperipheral speed of the take=up means, whereby there is obtainedslippage of the. yarn past the rollers, and means for breaking the yarnat a point below the rollers upon breakage of the yarn at a point abovesaid rollers, said means including a finger adapted to be moved in thepath of the bundle.

6. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comprising a. bundle oicontinuous filaments into a continuous product containing staple fibercomprising, in combination with a device having means for insertingtwist into the yarn and means for taking-up the same at a pointsubstantially ab'dve and in line with the spindle of the twisting means,a movable spirally fluted cutting roller over which the yarn offilaments is caused to move on its way to the take-up means, a secondspirally fluted roller adapted to make contact with said cutting rollerto keep the yarn continuously pressedagainst the surface of the rollers,the cutting roller being adapted to move at a peripheral speed which isless than the peripheral speed of the take-up means, whereby there isobtained slippage of the yarn past the'rollers, and means for breakingthe yarn at a point below the rollers upon breakage of the yarn at apoint above said rollers.

7. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comprising a bundle ofcontinuous filaments into a continuous product containing staple fibercomprising, in combination with a device having means for insertingtwist into the yarn and means for taking-up the same at a pointsubstantially above and in line with the spindle of the twisting means,a movable spirally fluted cutting roller over which the yarn is causedto move on its way to the take-up means, a second spirally fluted rolleradapted to make contact with said cutting roller to keep the yarncontinuously pressed against the surface of the rollers, the cuttingroller being adapted to move at a peripheral speed which is less thanthe peripheral speed of the take-up means, whereby there isobtained'slippage of the yarn past the rollers, and means for breakingthe yarn at a point below the rollers upon breakage of the yarn at apoint above said rollers, said means including a finger adapted to bemoved into the path of the yarn.

8. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comprising a bundle ofcontinuous filaments into a continuous product containing staple fibercomprising, in combination with a. device having 9 means for insertingtwist into the yarn and means for taking-up the same at a point abovethe twisting means, a positively driven cutting roller over which theyarn is caused to move on-its way to the take-up means, a bracketabovesaid cutting roller, said bracket having vertical slotted bearingstherein, an idler roller mounted for vertical movement in said bearingsand adapted to make contact with said cutting roller to keep the yarncontinuously pressed against the surface of said cutting roller, thecutting roller being adapted to move with a peripheral speed which isless than the peripheral speed of the take-up means, whereby there isobtained slippage of the yarn past the rollers, and means for breakingthe yarn at a point below the severing roller upon breakage of the yarnat a point above the severing roller.

9. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comprising a bundle ofcontinuous filaments into a continuous product containing staple fibercomprising, in combination with a device having means for insertingtwist into the yarn and means for taking-up the same at a point abovethe twisting means, a positively driven fluted cutting roller over whichthe bundle of filaments is caused tomove on its way to thetake-up means,a bracket above said cutting roller, said bracket having verticalslotted bearings therein, a fluted idler mounted for vertical movementin said bearings and adapted to make contact with said cutting roller tokeep the yarn continuously pressed against the surface of said cuttingroller, the cutting roller being adapted to move with a peripheral speedwhich is less than the peripheral speed of the take-up means, wherebythere is obtained slippage of the yarn past the rollers, and

,means for breaking the yarn at a point below the severing roller uponbreakage of the yarn at a point above the severing roller;

10. Apparatus for the conversion of a yarn comprising a bundle ofcontinuous filaments into a continuous product containing staple fibercomprising, in combination with a device having means for insertingtwist'into the yarn and means for taking-up the same at a point abovethe twisting means, a positively driven fluted cutting roller over whichthe yarn is caused to move on its way to the take-up means, a bracketabove said cutting roller, said bracket having vertical slotted bearingstherein, a fluted idler mounted for vertical movement in said bearingsand adapted to make contact with said cutting roller to keep the yarncontinuously pressed against the surface of said cutting roller, thecutting roller being' adapted to move with a peripheral speed which isless than the peripheral speed of the take-up means, whereby there isobtained slippage of the yarn past the rollers, and means for breakingthe yarn at a point below the rollers upon breakage of the yarn at apoint above said rollers, said means including a finger adapted to bemoved into the path of the yarn.

11. Apparatus for the conversion of yarn comprising a bundle ofcontinuous filaments into a continuous product containing staple fibercomprising, in combination with .a device having means for insertingtwist into the yarn and means for taking-up the same at a point abovethe twisting means, a movable severing roller over which the yarn iscaused to move on its way to the take-up means, rotatable means forcausing the yarn to make contact with the severing roller to keep theyarn continuously pressed against the surface of the severing rollers,and means for breaking the yarn at a point below the severing rollerupon breakage of the yarn at a point above the severing roller.

JULES E. HALIN.

